The France-born centre back, 20, is in his third season as a first-team regular at the San Mames and his reputation has continued to soar this term.

The paper reports the Basques have no intention whatsoever of selling Laporte for below the value of his €42m buyout clause, while the player himself, who is under contract until 2018, is very happy at the club.

Laporte has a lucrative boot contract with Adidas and its claimed they’d like him at Chelsea so they can unite him with another key partner in Chelsea.